Jo Sumi’s ‘Continuum’ Album: How This 40-Year Celebration Redefines Classical Music

Translation result. ▲ Sumi Jo’s 40th‑anniversary album, Continuum, was released on May 7. ⓒ Kim Yeong‑jun (Yeongjun Kim)

[SPOTV News reporter Kim Won‑gyeom] Soprano Sumi Jo released her 40th‑anniversary album on May 7.

SM Classics, the classical and jazz imprint of SM Entertainment, released Jo’s anniversary record Continuum at noon that day. Jo is the label’s first exclusive recording artist.

The album is a musical survey of Jo’s career — past, present and future. Along with the full audio release, SM Classics posted a special video for the duet “Romance,” featuring EXO’s Suho, on its YouTube channel.

“Romance” was composed by Park Jong‑hoon, with lyrics by Danny Gu and Jang Geun‑yeop. Jo’s powerful yet clear and delicate soprano blends with Suho’s warm lower register, creating a satisfying vocal contrast. The track especially embodies Jo’s longtime idea of artists from different traditions coming together to forge a new musical language.

Aside from Reinhold Glière’s “Concerto for Coloratura Soprano,” the medley “Medley: History of Sumi Jo,” which threads together highlights from her 40‑year repertoire, and an “Adagio” based on a theme by Albinoni, the album’s tracks are original compositions. The songs reflect moments from Jo’s life: fearful nights while studying abroad, longing for Korea, and both the anxieties and thrills of looking ahead.

The title song, “How Wonderful,” is a contemporary Korean art song written for Jo by composer Kim Jin‑hwan. As the lyric puts it — “Even the tears born of trials — still, love is simply beautiful” — the piece carries the weight of long years and sings of deepened gratitude and love.

“Encore” evokes a walk along the Seine and the uncertainty she felt about the road ahead, while “Arirang Cantabile” channels the singer’s emotions for the place where her always‑worried, loving parents live. Across 11 tracks, the album showcases the breadth of Jo’s voice and expressive range.

To mark her 40th anniversary, Jo is presenting a program that summarizes her musical life on stage. After successful concerts this March at Cadogan Hall in London and at Carnegie Hall in New York, she begins a national tour in May with stops in Seoul, Changwon, Bucheon and Yongin to meet fans at home.

She will also hold the 2nd Sumi Jo International Vocal Competition this July at the Château de la Ferté‑Ambroise in France. Jo remains committed to mentoring young singers and expanding the audience for classical music.